NRC begins formal review of PSEG Nuclear's Early Site Permit application, a move which could lead to construction of new reactor

Sunbeam file photoPSEG Nuclear's Artificial Island generating complex as seen from the air. On Friday the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced that PSEG Nuclear's Early Site Permit application was complete and that the agency would now begin a formal review, s tep which could lead to the construction of a new reactor at the Island.

LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK TWP. — The federal authorities have deemed PSEG Nuclear’s application for an Early Site Permit for a possible new reactor at the Artificial Island generating complex here complete and will now begin a formal review of the application.

PSEG Nuclear, which already operates three reactors here, submitted the 4,000-plus page application on May 25. The NRC will now begin the review process which could take more than two years.

According to the NRC which announced the acceptance of the application on Friday, during an Early Site Permit review, the agency evaluates a site to see if it suitable for a new nuclear power plant, independent of an application for construction of a new plant.

The review addresses site safety issues, environmental protection issues and plans for coping for emergencies. If approved, an Early Site Permit would be valid for 10 to 20 years and could be renewed for an additional 10 to 20 years.

“The NRC’s acceptance will allow us to continue moving forward with the regulatory process,” said Joe Delmar, spokesman for PSEG Nuclear. “We look forward to working with the NRC and all of our stakeholders as we continue to explore the possibility of building an additional nuclear plant in Salem County.”

“For more than two years, a dedicated groups of employees worked on preparing the ESP application. They have benchmarked across the industry including overseas to identify best practices,” Delmar said.

The acceptance review involved NRC staff checking whether the application contains the appropriate information, and of sufficient quality, according to the NRC which oversees the operation of the nation’s 104 nuclear power plants. Now that that has occurred, the NRC staff will docket it and embark on a formal review of the proposal. It also means the agency will soon publish a notice in the Federal Register regarding this determination and announcing the opportunity for anyone who would like to request a hearing on the application to do so.

While PSEG Nuclear has not formally committed to building a new reactor at the Island, the company wants to be prepared to move on the process should economic and other conditions be right to build a new plant.

The three reactors already operating at the Island — Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek — comprise the second largest nuclear complex in the United States.

PSEG Nuclear has already applied to the NRC seeking 20-year operating license extensions for all three of the plants. Nuclear reactors are initially licensed for 40 years.